Lancaster police put out public alerts to area residents urging them to keep children and pets inside homes for the rest of the evening after a black bear was spotted dining from a backyard bird feeder near the Fox Valley Country Club on Genesee Street at about 8:30 p.m. Monday.

Police said the bear may have been the same one spotted in Alden several days ago.

Authorities received a number of calls Monday night about the bear searching for food through back yards on Genesee Street.